title: Effects of tartar-control dentifrice on tooth sensitivity: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this three-week, double-blind pilot study was to assess the effects of a tartar-control dentifrice on tooth sensitivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six volunteer dental hygiene students completed a 14-item questionnaire regarding their oral health. Eighteen students were excluded from the study due to prior tooth sensitivity. Thirty-eight students were randomly assigned to either the experimental group using a tartar-control dentifrice (containing tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, PEG-6, disodium pyrophosphate, and tetrasodium pyrosulphate in a 5.0% soluble pyrophosphate formulation) or the control group using a regular dentifrice. Participants brushed for three weeks twice daily and then completed a post-treatment questionnaire, which included questions about tooth sensitivity. Differences between groups in reported sensitivity were measured by Fisher's Exact Test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fisher's Exact Test revealed a statistically significant difference in sensitivity experienced by the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.05), which reported no sensitivity. The phi coefficient, used to examine the strength of the relationship between tartar control paste and tooth sensitivity, was found significant at p < 0.02.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that patients may experience dentinal hypersensitivity when using the tartar-control toothpaste tested. Further long-term studies are required to test various brands of tartar-control dentifrice with a larger, more diverse sample for clinical measures of sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Hygiene, Wichita State University, Kansas, USA.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lavigne
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Gutenkunst
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D003802:Dentifrices; D014100:Toothpastes